Means for replenishing electrolytic cells



Sept. ll, 1928. 1,684,276

W. E'. HOLLAND MEANS FOR REPLENISHING ELECTROLYTIC CELLS' Filed July 23. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q4 W 24 Eik-71,

Sept. 11, 192s. y 1,684,276

' W. E. HOLLAND MEANS FOR REPLENISHING ELECTROLYTIC CELLS Filed July 23 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 .f5 7 5a n 2 Q ,U y ,l

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Patented slept. 11 1928.

w UNITED 517.1111135.r

WALTER E. HOLLAND, oF'rIIILAnELPnIA,

PIIIA sTonAGE BATTERY coMPANY, or

:eo-BATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

PATENT" oFFlcE.-

rENNsYLvANIA, AssIGNon To PHILADEL- PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A coa- MEANS"v non ItErLENIsIIING ELEGTROLYTIC cELLs.

Application filedv July 23,

One object of this invention` is to provide a relatively simple, inexpensive, easily applied, substantial device for automatically maintaining the liquid in an electrolytic cell 1 l at a redetermined level; theA invention especia y contemplating a novelvform of barometric'feeding apparatus for automatically replenishing the water lost from the` cells of a storage battery by decomposition and' evaporation.

The inventlon further contemplates a device of the above character which shall make j possible a comparison of the quantities of water required by each of a number of cells l' operating together 'as a battery, and shall therefore give' an indication of the condif tion of the cells; the'arrangement being such that the amount `of, liquid which" has been delivered to each cell mayO be readily `ob- Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic water replenishing device for electrolytic cells which shall be of such a nature as to require attention only at lon'g intervals, which will operate successfully whether at rester in vibration, as on a motor car, and whose construction land arrange:

ment of parts s'hall `be such that it will not be injured by exposure to temperatures'bel0 low the freezing point,` nor ordinarilybe Aprevented from operation by the freezing of a ortion of the waterv which it contains.

I so desire to provide a devicefof the class described which may be quickly and 85 conveniently relled and which 'may be applied tb storage batteries as at present manufactured withoutmequirin material change thereof; with the resultant eneit to the storage battery due' to the solution being keptA always at the correct level.

These objects and other advantageous ends 4I attain as hereinafterset orth, `reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, in

whic

Figs. 1 and 2 yare respectively a front ele- -vatiompartly'in vertical section, and a side elevation, showing my invention as applied to a storage battery;v

- Fig. 3 is a vertical section of a storage bat' tery cell having a special cover employing allingtube and a separate vent cap; and

Figui 'isa longitudmal vertical section of a combined filling tube and vent 'cap which mayemployed as part of my invention.

^ the 1920. serial No. 398,457.

In the. above drawings 1 represents the tion shown in Figs. 1 land 4, or withan independent iillingftfube 4, as shown in Fig. 3.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4, 'the combined vent'ca hard rubber or-other cover 5 of a battery cell 'vertical conduit 6 whose upper end is tapered and externally flanged to provide a` short rlb' or beading 'formedf to iit'linto and make a secure and tight joint withl a soft rubber tube. `Said conduit 6 is extended below the threaded cap for such a distance'that when wooden tray or case for a series of battery cellsl 2,. each of which in accordance with my mventlon is equipped either with a combined Y vent cap andjfilling tube '3 of the construe- I the latter is properly screwed into the cover 5' so as tov cooperate with the gasket 7, to makea liquid and gas tight connection therew1th its lower end is slightly below the level p and illing tube consists -K cfa flanged cap lt readed to screw into the .and having extending. centrally through it a at which it is desired to maintain the liquid in the cell. The lower end of the conduit 6 is formed with one ormore lateral openings 8` and terminates below 'these in a` closed cap forming a bailie 29 to prevent'jthe direct entrance into the conduit of gases given oi by .the lates, which would displace water in ttle and cause .it to enter the cell, whether needed or not, regardless of the -height of solution in the cell. In some cases it may be advisable to have the capped end 29 of the conduit greater in diameter than the conduit -itself, as shownl in Figs. 1 and'4, v y

made inuch smaller inpractice than would be 'expected to be workable' from theory,"

Whether the apparatus is subjected to vibration or remains at rest, due probably to the liquid at the outlet bein drawn down by the receding liquid around t e tube owing to surface tension-or other attractive force. In a battery replenishing apparatus for use on anA with air surrounding the outlet.

The conduit 6, at or slightly below the level yof thelower edge or lip 30 of the threaded ,notch or opening 10 into the annular chamber shown in Fig. 3, I provide a ventcap usual. or any desired construction an confined between the to cap 3, is preferably formed with an annular recess for'the reception of a. second baille in the form of a ring 9 of such material as rubber which when placed in said recess lies in' engagement with the lip 30 of said cap. The latter immediately above the ring 9 has a rformed between the cap body and the conduiot 6, and a vent passage 12 leads from the top of this chamber to the atmosphere.

= In the case of a battery cell constructed as 13 of an independent fillin tube '4 threaded into the cell cover 5al an of such a length that the lateral openings 8 at its capped lower end are `at the level at which it is desired tomaintain theliquid inthe cell.4 A packing ring 14 is Y face of the' cell cover and thel iange on the lling tube4 s o vas to make a gas and liquid tight joint'therewith and the upper end of the tube 1s extended and, given a frusto-conical form so as toadapt it to make-connection with `one end of a softrubber tube. v V Above the battery to which it isvdesired to apply my invention, I mount a bottle holder having a back'member 16=in the form of a wood, metal `or other plate of suitable size andf having on this a suitablesupporting structure 17, divided'by partitions 18 into verti-' cal compartments. The bottom of each of said compartments isperforated and the front,

of each of them has formed in it/aA vertical slot 20 whose sides 21 are `bevelled and preferably graduated. l

' Within each compartment of the box 17 is a liquid container in the form of an elon ated bottle or tank 22 havin a' bottom out et or nozzle 23 and a top mout normally closed by a gas tight seal 24. Eachfof the outlet'noz-v zles 23 has connected to it a soft rubber tube -25 whose lower end is fitted to the'upper end of the' conduit 6 of the filling tube 4 or tb a combined vent capand illin tube 3. The

-stopper or seal 24 of each o the bottles or containers 22 is' removably held in place bya Vassist insupportin 4the rubber tubes 25. With theabove escribed apparatusin use,

spring clamp 27, and -pinch cocksor stops 28 are respectively applied to the soft rubber .connecting tubes 25 to be shut off to prevent flooding of the battery cells whenthe to Stoppers are openedto fillthe bottles. Sai pinch cocks areA preferablylixed to the supporting frame or plate 16 so as tol steady and A the, inlet openings 8'. l When the pinch cocks28 are closed to pre-vent How through the tubes 25; the filled with water through their respective mouths and the Stoppers to close and seal said mouths, by proper manipulation of the spring clamps' 27. If now the pinch cocks 28 ,be o ened, water will pass from the bottles througli the `filling tubes into the several batte cells, in each of which the .solution level wil rise until the outlet openings 8 of said filling tubes are imnie and closed to access of air or gas whereupon further flow is stopped. Atlany. time independently of this flow of liquid, any excess air or gas may escape freely Y from the cells through the openings l0 and 12 vent cap and-since theseare positioned of the so that th'e'fconduit tube is interposed and bottles22 are then 24am thencaused:

serves as a baille between th'emyan'd also owing to the use of. the baiile 9, there is no possibility 0f the solution splashing or sprayingout` Fromtime to time as the solution in the cells evaporates or is' decomposed, it is replenished i from the container or bottles automaticall 22' associatedywith .the cells so that the level ofliquid -is kept at all times substantially conetant, inflow,` of, liquid v bein g automatically checked as soon as it rises s ciently to close the liquid level of .any cell falls sulliciently to again .uncover said o ening, water isl supplied as before, since batte 25 an the bones22.,

It will be readilyunder'stood that-by maintaining the solution of a battery 'at the correct level at all times, by the use ofthie'inventi'on, the battery will be protected from internal in- 'ury such as often results from `the solution gases or air toentertherubber tube e. uncovering .of the opening .allows thence rise into and .displace water inv los;

evel falling below the tops of'the plates and separators, Likewise, by preventing overfillacid, .o r xother electrol the battery case'lwith lts'associated and surroundin parts* is. harmedA y'the electr yte. l.

At any time the vcondition of thel various cells may.` be readily ascertained b observa tion of the levels of the liquid in l bottles as visible e several through the slots 20, and any ving of the'cells, spraying and slopping of the g I yte, is elimlnated and Irotectedl from being lis abnormal condition of a cell is ateonce indlcated by a material variation in the height ofi the liquid in the bottle associated withl 1t. If

all of the cells of a battery used for a given purpose are good condition, they -willeach vrequire substantially the same amount of water in agiven time to replenish. vthat lost by opera; tion;V rIf however any cell uires an abnormal amount of takes less water than is uined by stood that this is a positive indication of operating normally and are in.

water or on t e other hd e. others, as shown by a marke Jdiii'erencein y waterlevels'of the bottles, it will be under trouble of some sort and the cell or cells may be immediately inspected and given therequired attention before the trouble hasde veloped so far as to cause irreparable injury.

It is also to be noted that the above device is not injured by exposure to temperatures below the freezing point of water, since any ice formation commences at the highest point of the water within the bottles and is free to expand downward so that the result is simply that a slight surplus of liquid is forced into the cells connected thereto, and the solution level in the cells will become somewhat high temporarily.' Since heat is generated by the battery under conditions of use, however, a greater or less amount of the water in the tubes 25-and thebottles 22 ordinarily is naintained. in the liquid condition.

While I have shown and described my invention as applied to storage batteries, it has equal advantages, and may be used without departing from my invention, in connect-ion with other classes of electrolytic cells which -require more or less frequent replenishment of water or solution lost during operation.

I claim 1. The combination of an electrolytic cell; and a barometric device for maintaining a substantially constant liquid level therein, in-

cluding a filling tube having an outlet smaller than will allow passage of the filling li. uid when said tube is connected as for' use ut without external liquid adjacent said outlet.

2. The combination of an electrolytic cell;

a liquid container. mounted higher than said Vtainer with the cell; and a pinch cock carsaid opening; with a barometric liquid feedcell; a exible conduit connecting said container and the cell; with a flow controlling device operative on saidfflexible conduit and supported so as to steady said conduit.

3. The combination of an electrolytic cell; a liquid container mounted higher than said cell; a supporting structure for said container; a liexible conduit connecting said conried by said supportin structure for controlling the flow of liqui through the conduit.'

4. The combination of an electrolytic cell having a vented cover; a single tube mounted therein and formed with a lateral filling opening substantially at the normal liquid level of the said cell, said opening being smaller than Will allow the passage of the filling liquid whensaid tube is connected as for use but without external liquid adjacent ing device connected to said tube.

5. The combination with an electrolytic cell, of a barometric device for maintaininga substantially constant liquid level therein, said device comprising a container located above the cell and a tube having its extremity covered and provided with at least one lateral opening into the' cell smaller than Will allow the passage of the filling liquid when said tube is connected as for. use but without external liquid adjacent saidopening and constituting a passage for the liquid from the container to'the cell and of gas from the cell to the container. A

. WALTER E. HOLLAND. 

